Representative Chip Baltimore (R-Boone) dumps a stack of papers into a recycling container on Friday, April 21, 2017, at the Iowa Capitol Building in Des Moines.(Photo11: Bryon Houlgrave/The Register)Buy Photo

Iowa legislators pursued ambitious agendas in the 2017 session, but not every bill won final approval.

One bill that died would have legalized possession of machine guns, and another would have toughened penalties for political protesters blocking interstate highways. Lawmakers never seriously considered a proposal to prohibit football teams at Iowa's three state universities from playing games on Friday nights. Meanwhile, a measure to achieve greater political diversity for Iowa college faculty members generated a lot of buzz but failed to advance.

Speaking of buzz, there was the sweet proposal by 10 members of the Iowa House to designate the honeybee as Iowa's official state insect. But legislative deadlines swatted it away before there was time for a floor vote.

Some bills that failed to advance in 2017 will return in the 2018 session — such as banning minors from tanning facilities and prohibiting smoking on casino gambling floors — and may fail again. But others could spark serious debate, such as a proposal to reinstate the death penalty for some slayings of Iowa children.

Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, smiled and chuckled when asked why so many bills are never signed into law.

“Well, it is much easier to kill a bill than pass a bill," Branstad remarked, pointing out that bills can be rejected at multiple levels by legislative committees and must win support from both the House and Senate and the governor. "That is not an easy process. That is why sometimes it takes years" for legislation to win approval, he said.

Iowa Senate President Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, said the fact that so many bills died this session is simply a reflection of how the Iowa Legislature works.

"Some of those are good ideas and they become law, and some are really bad ideas and they never get really a hearing," Whitver said. "As we sorted through the bills this year, we really moved forward some bills that will positively affect this state, not just for a couple of years, but for generations to come. That is really what we are looking for when we are trying to move bills forward."

WATER QUALITY FUNDING: .Legislation to increase state funding to clean up Iowa's waters was approved by Senate Republicans. The House then passed its own version of water quality funding legislation with a large bi-partisan majority, but it was rejected by the Senate. Some lawmakers also proposed raising state's sales taxes to pay for water quality work. Senate File 512, House File 612

FANTASY SPORTS: Thousands of Iowans play internet fantasy sports. But Iowa is one of a handful of states where cash payouts are either illegal or subject to ambiguous laws. A bill was introduced that would have authorized fantasy sports contests and provided for regulation by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. But critics saw it as an expansion of gambling and the measure could not generate enough support to pass. House Study Bill 52

911 CALLS: A bill died in the Senate that would have eliminated public access to the content of many 911 calls. The legislation would have declared that audio, video and transcripts of 911 calls involving injured people are confidential medical records and exempt from Iowa's open records law. If approved, authorities' initial responses to shootings, stabbings and many other incidents could have faced less scrutiny. Calls involving minors would have automatically become confidential. A Republican lawmaker introduced the legislation in response to the release of 911 calls to the Associated Press last year that exposed a string of gun accidents in Tama County that killed two teens and injured a third. While states often debate which 911 calls should be public records, the sweeping Iowa measure was considered rare. A Senate Republican Caucus spokesman said the bill wasn't ready after some Republicans expressed concerns about its impact on body cameras. House File 571

DISMANTLING DES MOINES WATER WORKS: Republican lawmakers sponsored legislation aimed at dismantling the Des Moines Water Works and replacing it with a regional water utility. They denied the bill was in retaliation for a federal lawsuit filed by Des Moines Water Works Trustees against three northwest Iowa drainage districts because of nitrate-laden agricultural runoff that is funneled into the Raccoon River. The river supplies drinking water for central Iowans. But the legislation stalled as soon as a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit. Republican legislators said they still want a discussion to continue on regional representation for Des Moines' suburbs served by the Des Moines Water Works, adding the legislation could resurface next year. House File 316

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Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe said during a meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board that he was surprised by the campaign against the Water Works' lawsuit against three Iowa counties.
Rodney White/The Register

BICYCLE SAFETY: Lawmakers again debated whether to establish rules for safely passing bicycles on Iowa's roads and requiring rear-facing bicycle lights to be used at night. But the legislation could not generate enough support to win approval. House File 513

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Cycling advocates are pushing hard for an "active transportation" planner during a budget hearing in November, but it was not added to the $660 million budget until last week.
Mackenzie Elmer/The Register

LIFE AT CONCEPTION: Legislation filed in the House and Senate declared that life begins at conception and that each life should be accorded the same rights under the state and federal constitutions and state law. The measures would have blocked all abortions in Iowa and likely would have prompted legal challenges. The Senate bill was approved during a subcommittee meeting that drew hundreds of protesters and supporters, but it didn't advance further. The House bill was filed but didn't receive a hearing. House Republicans also considered banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected, but the idea failed to advance. Senate File 253, House File 297

BAN ON TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS: The Senate rejected a statewide ban on automated traffic enforcement cameras used to issue tickets to motorists for speeding and running red lights. Instead, the Senate amended a bill with the goal of keeping traffic enforcement cameras while imposing a new set of regulations to govern the devices. The measure the passed the Senate but died in the House. Senate File 220

SANCTUARY CITIES: Iowa cities and counties would have been prohibited from enacting "sanctuary" policies to provide safe havens for undocumented immigrants under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate that died in the House. The measure would have barred a local government from receiving state funds if the legislation was violated. It would have required Iowa law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration detainer requests for persons in their custody. Senate File 481

ALLOWING PLATOONS OF TRUCKS: Current law prohibits truck drivers from following within 300 feet of another truck on a road outside of a business or residential district. The proposal, which advanced to the House floor, would have exempted trucks using cooperative cruise control and any other automated driving technology approved by the Department of Transportation to allow travel in a connected platoon. House File 465

HONEYBEES AS STATE INSECT: House members noted that about 1,500 Iowa beekeepers manage around 30,000 colonies of honeybees that produce over 3 million pounds of honey annually. They said one-third of the food produced in the United States depends on insect pollination, 80 percent of which is due to honeybees. The measure was approved at the committee level but didn't advance further. House Joint Resolution 10

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, drew applause from dozens of citizens for literally tearing up a bill from Gov. Terry Branstad that would have canceled license requirements for social workers, mental health therapists, barbers and several other professions. Kaufmann said he received about 3,600 emails about House Study Bill 138, nearly all in opposition. Licensed workers told legislators the licensure requirements ensure proper training and oversight. The licenses also are required by many public and private insurance plans that pay for health care services, they said.

POLITICAL DIVERSITY FOR PROFESSORS: Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, offered a bill to achieve greater political diversity among professors at the Iowa Board of Regents' three universities. Senate File 288 would have instituted a hiring freeze until the number of registered Republicans and Democrats on the university faculty fall within 10 percent of each other. The proposed was never debated, but it generated state and national news coverage.

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A bill in the Iowa Senate seeks to achieve greater political diversity among professors at the state's Board of Regents universities.
Aaron Young/The Register

UNSCRUPULOUS ATHLETIC AGENTS: The Iowa Senate voted 50-0 in favor of a bill aimed at cracking down on unscrupulous agents that are allegedly twisting rules in an effort to obtain access to student athletes at Iowa's universities. The bill died in the House. The measure was proposed by Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, whose son, Drew, played on the University of Iowa football team. Senate File 385

BAN ON FRIDAY NIGHT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL: Rep. Peter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, proposed a ban on allowing Iowa's three state universities from scheduling football games on Fridays. Cownie said he was concerned about plans by the Big Ten Conference to schedule Friday-night games because the University of Iowa would compete for fans with Iowa's high school football teams. House File 86

POST-ABORTION LAWSUITS: Iowa women who have had an abortion could have sued their doctor for emotional distress suffered from the procedure, even if that distress occurred years later under a bill authored by Chelgren. The measure faced strong opposition from Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the state's largest abortion provider, which said studies show only a small percentage of women regret their abortions. Anti-abortion activists countered with research that showed many women do suffer abortion-related emotional distress, sometimes years after. Senate File 26

PARENTAL CONSENT FOR BODY PIERCINGS: A bill sponsored by Rep. Kevin Koester, R-Ankeny, would have made it a crime for young people to come home and surprise Mom and Dad with a nose ring. The measure would have required parental consent for those younger than 18 seeking any non-earlobe body piercing. The violation would have been a simple misdemeanor for both the piercing specialist and the person receiving the piercing. House File 33

ELECTION RUNOFFS: Legislation sponsored by Zaun would have allowed voters to choose party nominees for elected office when primary elections are inconclusive. The bill passed the Senate but died in the House. Under current Iowa law, party nominations are decided by conventions of party delegates when no candidate wins 35 percent of the vote in a primary. Zaun's bill was prompted by his own unsuccessful campaign for Congress nearly three years ago. Zaun finished first in a June 2014 primary among six candidates for the Republican nomination in Iowa's 3rd District race for Congress, but he ultimately lost at a convention. Senate File 483

E-VERIFY TO IDENTIFY ILLEGAL WORKERS: Legislation aimed at forcing a crackdown on Iowa employers who hire undocumented immigrants died in the Senate amid complaints it would foster an unwelcoming environment for all immigrants. The bill would have required many Iowa employers to use the federal E-Verify system when hiring workers. That free online system allows businesses to check a potential employee's eligibility to work in the United States. Senate File 412

SAFE HAVENS FOR NEWBORNS: Iowa's Safe Haven law, which allows newborn babies to be voluntarily released at hospitals for adoption, would have been expanded under a bill approved by the Senate that failed to advance in the House. At least 20 babies have been covered under a state law to protect newborns that took effect in 2002, according to the Iowa Department of Human Services. The measure would have expanded the safe haven time period from 14 days to 30 days. In addition, a person could simply call 911 to have police or emergency medical crews respond to pick up the baby. Senate File 360

BAN ON SALE OF FETAL TISSUE: A bill intended to prevent the sale of fetal body parts was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate but didn't advance in the House. The bill would have prohibited persons from acquiring, providing, receiving or transferring fetal body parts in Iowa regardless of whether it was for "valuable consideration." Democrats who opposed the bill contended it would have hampered medical research. Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, said the bill was intended to avoid circumstances that were discussed in congressional hearings on the alleged sale of fetal body parts. Senate File 359

CRACKDOWN ON HIGHWAY PROTESTS: Political activists who block traffic on Iowa's roads are now usually cited with a simple misdemeanor offense and fined $35, but Senate Study Bill 1135 would have stiffened the penalties by classifying a first offense as a serious misdemeanor with punishment of up to a year in prison and fine of up to $1,875. A similar bill was filed in the House, but neither won full chamber approval. The measures were drafted in response to an incident in November, when more than 100 protesters blocked eastbound traffic on Interstate Highway 80 in Iowa City for about 30 minutes to protest Donald Trump's presidential election.

LEGALIZING MACHINE GUNS: Iowa would have eliminated a prohibition on possession of machine guns under Senate File 108. The measure would have applied only to machine guns manufactured before 1986, and it would have required an extensive federal background check, filling out paperwork and obtaining a tax stamp. Some other parts of the bill, however, have been attached to omnibus gun rights legislation, including provisions to allow possession of short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns.

REDUCED MARIJUANA PENALTIES: Legislation that would have reduced criminal penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana was approved by a Senate subcommittee but failed to advance further. Senate File 280 would have classified possession of five grams or less of marijuana as a simple misdemeanor for a first-time offender. Violators could be ordered to spend up to 30 days in jail and fined $325. Under current law, a first-time offense for marijuana possession is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months behind bars and a fine of up to $1,000.

BOAT MOTORS ON LAKE MACBRIDE: The Senate approved Senate File 259, which would allow boats with motors exceeding 10 horsepower at any time on Lake Macbride in eastern Iowa so long as the motorboats were operated at no-wake speed. The bill died in the House.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: Sen. Jerry Behn, R-Boone, led a push to reinstate the death penalty, but only for multiple offenses in which a minor was kidnapped, raped and murdered. The bill was scheduled for a subcommittee hearing, but it was canceled and never rescheduled, although the issue could resurface next year. Senate File 335

DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS: Chelgren proposed authorizing a licensed teacher to temporarily or permanently remove a student from an assigned classroom when a student is "continuously or extremely disruptive." The measure would have provided teachers with protections from administrative discipline and immunity from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits. But educators who opposed the bill said it could violate federal laws regarding special education students and could raise questions about racial bias toward minority students. Senate File 323

LT. GOVERNOR CONFIRMATIONS: A bill introduced by Sen. Tony Bisgnano, D-Des Moines, would have required the House and Senate to confirm an appointment to a vacant lieutenant governor position. Senate File 50 would have given legislators a say about who will fill the lieutenant governor position after Gov. Terry Branstad departs for China to become the U.S. ambassador.

CASINO SMOKING BAN: Casinos are one of the few public places where Iowans can still openly smoke cigarettes. Senate File 249, which proposed to ban smoking on gambling floors, went nowhere. Casinos argue they would lose too much revenues if patrons couldn't light up tobacco and that the change could cost the jobs of Iowa workers. Critics say casino employees shouldn't have to work amid cigarette haze.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Eight Democrats sponsored a bill that would have repealed a state law that declares English Iowa's official language, but it failed to gain traction in the Republican-controlled House. House File 81

EX-OFFENDER HIRING: Some lawmakers wanted to prohibit employers from seeking the criminal records of job applicants. House File 192

75 MPH SPEED LIMIT: Iowa motorists could have driven at 75 mph on interstate highways under a bill sponsored by Zaun. He's proposed similar legislation in the past that has attracted some interest, but not enough to pass either chamber. Senate File 289

MANDATORY MOTORCYCLE HELMETS: Iowans operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger would have been required to wear motorcycle helmets under a bill proposed by Democratic Reps. Mary Mascher and Vicki Lensing, both of Iowa City. Republican and Democratic legislative leaders have generally agreed that a mandatory helmet law won't be debated. House File 286

BAN ON UNDERAGE TANNING: Iowans younger than 18 would have been banned from tanning facilities. Legislators have attempted restrictions on youth tanning for years. House File 111

TERM LIMITS: The governor and other state elected officials generally would have been limited to 12 consecutive years in office. Although some legislators expressed interest in term limits when they ran for office, the proposal didn't receive serious consideration. Senate Joint Resolution 3

ASSAULT WEAPON SALES: Iowa would have banned the sale or transfer of semi-automatic assault weapons under a proposal by Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, that was not debated. House File 157

VIDEO CAMERAS REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS: Iowa schools would have been required to install video cameras and audio monitoring devices in certain areas before July 1, 2019, under a bill that failed to advance before a legislative deadline. Senate File 294

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A busy day inside the Iowa Capitol during the 2017 session(Photo11: William Petroski/Des Moines Register)